Ethical statements
The Journal of Hospital Administration is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. It is achieved by adhering to the Core Practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). There are standards of expected ethical behavior for all parties involved in the publishing of scholarly journal articles: the publisher and editors, reviewers, and authors. All the involved parties are expected to comply with COPE's guidelines on ethical behavior, which represent the best practices in scholarly publishing.
Publisher and Editors
The Association for Health Sciences and Education (AHSE) and the journal editors are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all the publishing practices. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the research that we publish, as well as the privacy and confidentiality of our authors, reviewers, and readers. To fulfill this commitment, we pledge to adhere to the following ethical statements:
- We maintain editorial independence and will not allow any external influences to compromise the quality, objectivity, or accuracy of the research that we publish.
- We ensure all submissions received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others, except as permitted by the journal editor.
- We ensure that all research that we publish undergoes rigorous double-blind peer review by qualified experts in the relevant fields. We strive to maintain the confidentiality of our reviewers and to protect their anonymity if requested.
- We require that all authors of research submitted to us meet the criteria for authorship, as defined by international guidelines. We also require that all authors disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest. All sources of financial support for the research project should also be properly acknowledged.
- We are committed to preventing plagiarism and fraud in all forms. All research articles submitted to us must be original and not previously published or under review elsewhere.
- We are committed to being transparent in our practices and policies. We make the policies regarding peer review, editorial decisions, and publishing procedures readily available to our authors, reviewers, and readers.
- We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the publishing practices. Submissions from researchers of all backgrounds are welcomed. We strive to ensure that our editorial and review processes are free from bias and discrimination.
- We acknowledge that errors and mistakes can occur in research, and we are committed to correcting them promptly and transparently. If significant errors or inaccuracy are discovered after publication, we will cooperate with the authors to retract or correct their paper as appropriate.
- We believe that upholding these ethical statements is essential to maintaining the trust of our authors, reviewers, and readers. We will also continue to review and update our policies and practices to ensure that we meet the highest ethical standards in all our scholarly publishing endeavors.
Reviewers
Reviewers proceed peer reviews to assist the journal editor in making editorial decisions about a manuscript’s quality and suitability for publication. Reviewers shall recognize the importance of upholding the highest ethical standards in their work and pledge to adhere to the following ethical statements:
- Reviewers shall respect the confidentiality of the peer review process and the manuscripts that they handle. All data concerning the manuscript must be treated as privileged information and kept private. Reviewers will not disclose any information related to the manuscripts or the review process, unless authorized by the relevant parties or required by law.
- Manuscript reviews must be conducted objectively and without personal criticism of the author. Reviewers shall strive to evaluate manuscripts based solely on their academic merit, without regard to factors such as authors' race, gender, nationality, or institutional affiliation. Reviewers shall provide constructive feedback to the authors that is helpful in improving the quality of the manuscript. Reviewers refrain from making personal attacks or derogatory comments.
- It is important for reviewers to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the review and recuse from handling manuscripts if necessary.
- Reviewers shall complete the reviews within the agreed upon timeframe. If reviewers are unable to meet the deadline, they shall inform the editors promptly and provide an estimated timeline for completion.
- Reviewers shall ensure that the manuscripts they handle are original and not previously published or under review elsewhere. Reviewers shall report any suspected cases of plagiarism or fraud to the editors promptly.
- Reviewers shall conduct themselves professionally in all aspects of work as reviewers. Reviewers shall treat the authors and their work with respect and provide feedback that is both constructive and objective.
Authors
Each author listed on the manuscript shall be dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards in all aspects of their research. All authors shall recognize that their work has a significant impact on the academic community and society as a whole. Therefore, authors shall pledge to adhere to the following ethical statements:
- Authors shall ensure that their work is original and authentic, and that authors have acknowledged all sources used in their research. Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. Any other forms of academic misconduct are also unacceptable.
- Authors shall strive to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their research. It is unacceptable to intentionally include inaccurate statements or fabricated data in the manuscript, which is considered unethical behavior.
- Appropriate ethical approval and informed consent shall be obtained by the authors for their research involving human subjects, animals, or any other sensitive topics. It shall be ensured by the authors that their research is conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.
- Authors shall acknowledge and attribute the contributions of all organizations and individuals that have contributed to their research. Every person who has made a significant contribution to the paper should be listed as co-author. Authors do not misrepresent the contributions of others or claim credit for work that is not their own.
- Authors shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence their research. Authors should not accept funding or other forms of support that may compromise their academic integrity or independence.
- Authors shall respond promptly and cooperatively to requests for information or clarification related to their research. Authors shall acknowledge and address any errors or mistakes in their work promptly and transparently.
- Authors shall consider the potential impact of their research on society, and take steps to ensure that their findings are communicated clearly and effectively to the public.
- Authors shall treat editorial colleagues, reviewers, and editors with respect and professionalism in all aspects of their interactions. Authors shall provide constructive feedback and engage in scholarly discourse that is both respectful and constructive.
- Authors must guarantee that their submitted work contains no content that may be considered as libelous or as infringing in any way on the copyright of another party. If the authors have used the work and/or words of others, it should be appropriately cited or quoted.
For authors in the areas of biology and medical science, the ethical statements below should be included:
- Informed consent: To ensure the human participant fully understand the nature and purpose of the research, as well as any potential risks and benefits, authors shall obtain informed consent from them.
- Animal welfare: It is important for the authors ensure that animal research is conducted humanely and with the minimum amount of suffering necessary to achieve scientific goals. Authors should adhere to animal welfare guidelines and regulations, and use alternatives to animal research whenever possible.
- Respect for diversity: Authors shall ensure that their research does not discriminate against individuals or groups based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.
For additional guidance on research ethics, we recommend consulting relevant ethical guidelines and seeking institutional review board (IRB) approval where applicable.
COPE's Practices
>> Allegations of Misconduct
>> Authorship and Contributorship
>> Complaints and Appeals
>> Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests
>> Data and Reproducibility
>> Ethical Oversight
>> Intellectual Property
>> Journal Management
>> Peer Review Processes
>> Post-publication Discussions and Corrections
